ATV Safety Guide

Your all-terrain vehicle takes you off roads and onto trails, over dunes, through the forest and over the plains on mud-spattered, fun-packed adventures. ATVs perfectly embody the thrills offered by the powersports lifestyle. However, riding a quad is risky business, requiring some planning and gearing up as well as adherence to safety guidelines. To ensure that you navigate your off-terrain ride as safely as possible and come back in one piece, Cross Country Powersports has created this quick safety guide for you to follow. Our dealership can be found in Metuchen, New Jersey, if you find yourself wanting to check out some of the latest ATVs we have for sale!

Gear Up

Every powersport requires gear. That’s a given. With their lack of a roof and open sides, an ATV does not offer you the same protection as your passenger car does and increases your chances of being thrown out of the vehicle in a crash. The lack of a seatbelt only makes this more likely, so you need to protect your body as well as you can when you’re riding.

The most important thing you should equip yourself with is a well-fitting, DOT-rated helmet with a high crash-test rating. Motorcycle helmets are meant to protect your head in the event of an impact that flings you from the bike, which means they can also serve you well on an ATV, but they can be heavy and hot for the slower speeds you reach on a quad.

What you may actually want is a motocross helmet, which is designed precisely for extreme sports, making it perfect for ATV safety purposes. If the helmet you choose lacks a face shield or mask, then you should also invest in a pair of well-fitted goggles that will protect your eyes from flying debris kicked up by your wheels as well as branches on the path. You may also want to get them tinted with UV protection for sunny days.

The rest of your attire doesn’t need to be specialized, just sufficient to protect you from the worst damage. Long pants and long sleeves, gloves and sturdy boots will save your skin from abrasions and scratches as you’re riding. You should also carry a first aid kit on your ATV with the basics so you can tend to any wounds as you go.

Service Your ATV

Before every ride on your quad, you should look it over to make sure there aren’t any problems that need addressing. Check that your tires are pressured evenly and don’t have any uneven tread wear or embedded objects. Make sure your engine is running smoothly and starts without problems. Fill up your tank before every trip and check your oil and other fluids, and get these replenished as necessary. If you encounter any repairs you can’t perform yourself, call your local dealership’s service department to schedule an appointment for maintenance. Cross Country Powersports has qualified mechanics who are more than happy to help you get your quad ready for the next adventure.

Practice Safety

You may be tempted to throw caution to the wind and ride as fast as you can no matter the terrain, but you should try to avoid putting yourself in harm’s way as much as you can. This means you should be cautious on new trails, take things slowly and remain as vigilant and focused as possible. Watch for obstacles and animals and other people who might enter your path, and be respectful of hikers and campers using the same area as you by slowing down, not revving your engine, and allowing them space. Never drink or use recreational drugs before straddling your ATV because the loss of focus and attention caused by intoxication is the surest way to land yourself in the hospital. Ride during daylight hours and in good weather conditions, and ride with at least one other person so that you can look out for each other.

Still have questions about ATV safety practices? Have concerns about your ATV’s functionality? Stop by or call us to ask any questions you might have and schedule an appointment for maintenance or parts. We also carry a great range of new and used four wheelers if you’re in the market. Cross Country Powersports has a dealership location in Metuchen, near Newark, serving the cities of New Brunswick, Paterson and Trenton, New Jersey.